Microfiche or card index

ABSTRACT

A microfiche or card index including a backing sheet having a plurality of shingled pocket members superimposed thereon, the pocket members being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the backing sheet. Each pocket is formed by a sheet which has been cut, scored and folded to form a rectangular recess.

United States Patent 1191 Hutchison, Jr. Jan. 1, 1974 [54] MICROFICHE OR CARD INDEX 2,228,378 1 1941 Whitcomb 40/104.19

1,766,777 6/1930 Crull 40/l24 X [75] Inventor: Eduard T. HutchIson, Jr., S1lver 3.507.064 4/1970 H 40/1242 p Md. 2,959,879 ll/l960 Mazur 40/124.4 Assigneez walcott-Tallor C p y Leammg Incorporated, Bethesda, Md.

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [22] Flled' 1972 Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff [2]] Appl. No.: 233,420 Att0rneyBrady, OBoyle & Gates [52] US. Cl. 40/l24.2 [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search 1 A microfiche or card index including a backing sheet 40/l242 having a plurality of shingled pocket members superimposed thereon, the pocket members being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the backing sheet. Each [56] References cued pocket is formed by a sheet which has been cut,

UNITED STATES PATENTS scored and folded to form a rectangular recess. 2,761,452 9/1956 Wassell 4()/l24.4 1,047,840 12/1912 Reynolds 40/1242 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MICROFICIIE OR CARD INDEX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore various indices have been proposed for the filing of michrofiche and similar types of cards. One such index includes a plurality of shingled pockets mounted on a backing sheet, each pocket being formed by a sheet folded and closed on its two sides and bottom edge with the upper edge being open for receiving a card or microfiche. The pockets are constructed and arranged on the backing sheet in such a manner as'to be perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the backing sheet and so that the identifying indicia on the card projects above the upper edge of the pocket.

While these conventional indices have been satisfactory for'their intended purpose, they have been subject to certain disadvantages in that the construction of the pocket resulted in an envelope having a close interior tolerance at its two sides and bottom edge thereby causing the card to be held in the pocket with a substantially tight'fit, whereby the easy removal of the card was precluded. This problem was compounded when a plurality of cards were inserted in the respective pockets in the index since each card tended to expand the front face ofits pocket against the back face of the next adjacent pocket thereby binding the adjacent card in its respective pocket.

Another disadvantage experienced with conventional pocket-type card indices is that the pockets were constructed to receive only cards having the identifying indicia on the upper edge thereof which projected above the open end of the pocket. Cards with indicia on the side edges could not be used with these indices since the side edges of the card would be contained within the pocket and therefore not visible.

To overcome the above-noted disadvantages experienced in conventional pocket-type card indices, after considerable research and experimentation, the index of the present invention has been devised which comprises, essentially, a backing sheet having a plurality of shingled pocket members superimposed thereon. Each pocket is formed by a sheet which has been cut, scored and folded to form a rectangular recess having a uniform interior tolerance throughout the recess to thereby prevent the binding of a card contained therein. The pocket members are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the backing sheet whereby the card contained in the pocket is engaged by only one side and the bottom edge of the recess to thereby facilitate the selective removal of the card from its respective pocket; the top edge and side edge of the card project above the top edge and the opposite side edge, respectively, of the pocket, whereby identifying indicia carried on the top edge or side edge ofa filed card is rendered visible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the index of the present invention mounted in a desk stand;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the index of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the formation of the individual pockets and the relationship of the front panel to the next adjacent pocket;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the index;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view ofa conventional microfiche adapted to be filed in the index of the present inventon.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, while the index 1 of the present invention is shown mounted in the frames of a conventional desk stand, the index is readily adapted for mounting in conventional posting trays, file drawers and the like.

As will be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the index comprises a backing sheet 2 having a plurality of shingled pocket members 3 superimposed thereon, each pocket being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the backing sheet.

The details of construction of each pocket member are illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein it will be seen that a sheet 4 is cut along its upper edge to form inclined edges 4a, 4b disposed at 90 to each other, edge 40 being inclined at substantially 35 to the horizontal and edge 4b being disposed at substantially 55 to the horizontal. The bottom edge of the sheet is similarly cut to form inclined edges 40 and 4d disposed at 90 to each other and 35 and 55 to the horizontal, respectively. The triangular flap portions 4e, formed by the cutting of the bottom edge of the sheet, are then folded upwardly in the direction of the arrows and adhesively secured to the front face ofthe sheet 4 to thereby provide a V-shaped cradle. By this construction and arrangement, a rectangular recess is formed wherein opposite edges 4a, 40 and 412,4d are parallel to each other. The next adjacent pocket is similarly formed and the back face of its sheet 4 is adhesively secured to the front faces of flaps 4e, whereby the front and back faces of adjacent sheets, together with inclined edges 40 and 4d, form a rectangular pocket inclined to the longitudinal axis of the sheet 4.

In assembling the index, each of the pockets are formed as described above; the first folded sheet 5 (FIG. 2) is then adhesively secured to the backing sheet 2. The next adjacent folded sheet is then offset from the first folded sheet and adhesively secured to the folded flaps 4c of the first folded sheet as described hereinabove. Each successive folded sheet is similarly offset and adhesively secured to the next adjacent folded sheet to thereby form a plurality of shingled pockets mounted on the backing sheet 2. The front of the last folded sheet 6 of the shingled pockets has a blank sheet 7 adhesively secured thereto, the sheet having inclined edges 7a and 7b parallel to the inclined upper edges of the last folded sheet 6, and a straight bottom edge parallel to the bottom edge of the backing sheet 2.

In using the index of the present invention to file a microfiche or index card 8 of the type shown in FIG. 8, the microfiche is inserted into a selected pocket so that its side edge 8a and bottom edge 8b abuts or rests against the V-shaped cradle or inclined edge 4d and 4c, respectively, of the pocket. The identifying indicia 8c, 8d, carried by the microfiche, projects above the pocket to be clearly visible to the user.

From the above description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the construction and arrangement of the shingled, inclined pockets provides an improved index wherein each pocket is formed with a uniform interior tolerance to thereby prevent the binding ofa microfiche or card contained therein. The inclination of the pockets relative to the longitudinal axis of the backing sheet results in the filed card engaging only one side edge and the bottom edge of the pocket which not only facilitates the removal of the card from the pocket but also permits the use of microfiche or cards having identifying indicia on the upper edge or side edge thereof which is clearly visible to the user while the card is filed.

it is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

l claim:

1. An index comprising an elongate rectangular backing sheet and at least one pocket member providing an envelope superimposed on said backing sheet, said pocket member comprising a laminate sheet structure including three plies, the first ply of said laminate structure being secured to the face of said backing sheet, the second ply being secured to a portion of the face of the first ply, said second ply having a pair of edges disposed perpendicular to each other and inclined relative to a transverse axis parallel to one edge of said backing sheet, said inclined edges of said second ply providing a self-centering V-shaped cradle, and the third ply being secured to the face of the second ply so as to provide a pocket between said first and third plies, the free end of said third ply having two free edges in the shape of an inverted V, each of said two free edges being substantially parallel to one of the inclined edges of said V-shaped cradle, respectively, so that a rectangular index card may be retained within the pocket member in a self-centering manner with two contiguous edges of the card engaging the V-shaped cradle of the pocket member and the other two contiguous edges of the card projecting outwardly from the pocket member to thereby expose indicia adjacent said other two contiguous edges thereby enabling the indicia to be clearly visible to the user.

2. An index according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of shingled pocket members are supported by said backing sheet, the first ply of the innermost pocket member of said plurality of pocket members being secured to the face of said backing sheet, the first ply of each succeeding pocket member being secured to the second ply of the subadjacent pocket member, said first ply of each succeeding pocket member providing said third ply for each pocket member, and a fourth ply being secured to the second ply of the outermost pocket member of said plurality of pocket members so as to provide a pocket between the first and fourth plies, the free end of said fourth ply having two free edges in the shape of an inverted V, each of said two free edges being substantially parallel to one of the inclined edges of said V-shaped cradle, respectively. 

1. An index comprising an elongate rectangular backing sheet and at least one pocket member providing an envelope superimposed on said backing sheet, said pocket member comprising a laminate sheet structure including three plies, the first ply of said laminate structure being secured to the face of said backing sheet, the second ply being secured to a portion of the face of the first ply, said second ply having a pair of edges disposed perpendicular to each other and inclined relative to a transverse axis parallel to one edge of said backing sheet, said inclined edges of said second ply providing a self-centering V-shaped cradle, and the third ply being secured to the face of the second ply so as to provide a pocket between said first and third plies, the free end of said third ply having two free edges in the shape of an inverted V, each of said two free edges being substantially parallel to one of the inclined edges of said V-shaped cradle, respectively, so that a rectangular index card may be retained within the pocket member in a self-centering manner with two contiguous edges of the card engaging the V-shaped cradle of the pocket member and the other two contiguous edges of the card projecting outwardly from the pocket member to thereby expose indicia adjacent said other two contiguous edges thereby enabling the indicia to be clearly visible to the user.
 2. An index according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of shingled pocket members are supported by said backing sheet, the first ply of the innermost pocket member of said plurality of pocket members being secured to the face of said backing sheet, the first ply of each succeeding pocket member being secured to the second ply of the subadjacent pocket member, said first ply of each succeeding pocket member providing said third ply for each pocket member, and a fourth ply being secured to the second ply of the outermost pocket member of said plurality of pocket members so as to provide a pocket between the first and fourth plies, the free end of said fourth ply having two free edges in the shape of an inverted V, each of said two free edges being substantially parallel to one of the inclined edges of said V-shaped cradle, respectively. 